Mekinist: Side Effects, Uses, Dosage, Interactions, and More

Mekinist (trametinib) is a prescription drug that’s used to treat certain types of cancers and tumors. Mekinist comes as a powder that a pharmacist mixes into an oral solution and an oral tablet.

Mekinist is used to treat certain types of:

• melanoma in adults
• non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) in adults
• anaplastic thyroid cancer in adults
• solid tumors in adults and children ages 1 year and older (see the note below)
• glioma (a type of brain tumor) in children ages 1 year and older

Note: Mekinist received accelerated approval from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for use in solid tumors. Accelerated approval is based on information from early drug studies. The FDA will make a decision about full approval after more studies are completed.

To learn more about Mekinist’s uses, see the “What is Mekinist taken for?” section.

Mekinist basics

Mekinist contains the active ingredient trametinib. It belongs to a group of drugs called kinase inhibitors.

Mekinist is a brand-name medication. A generic version of the drug currently isn’t available.

What are some frequently asked questions about Mekinist?

Find answers to some commonly asked questions about Mekinist below.

How do Tafinlar and Mekinist compare?

In certain situations, a doctor may prescribe either Mekinist or Tafinlar (dabrafenib) alone to treat melanoma with certain genetic mutations. They also may prescribe Mekinist to be taken along with Tafinlar to treat other types of cancer with certain mutations. (See the “What is Mekinist taken for?” section to learn more.)

Mekinist comes as a powder that a pharmacist mixes into an oral solution and as oral tablets. Tafinlar comes as tablets that a pharmacist makes into an oral suspension (a type of liquid) and as oral capsules. But Mekinist and Tafinlar belong to the same group of drugs (kinase inhibitors).

As with Mekinist, taking Tafinlar and drinking alcohol may make certain side effects worse. These include nausea, vomiting, and tiredness.

Ask your doctor or pharmacist if you’d like more information on how these two drugs compare.

Does Mekinist cause hair loss?

Mekinist prescribing information doesn’t list hair loss as a side effect. But hair loss can have a variety of causes. These include stress, other conditions you have, and other medications you take.

If you’re experiencing hair loss, talk with your doctor to learn more about its potential cause.

What are Mekinist’s side effects?

Like most drugs, Mekinist may cause mild to serious side effects. The lists below describe some of the more common side effects that Mekinist may cause. These lists don’t include all side effects possible.

Keep in mind that side effects of a drug can depend on:

• your age
• other health conditions you have
• other medications you take

Your doctor or pharmacist can tell you more about the potential side effects of Mekinist. They also can suggest ways to help reduce side effects.

Mild side effects

Here’s a list of some of the mild side effects that Mekinist can cause. Side effects may vary slightly depending on the condition for which you’re taking Mekinist. They also may vary slightly if you’re taking Mekinist along with Tafinlar.

Mild side effects of Mekinist that have been reported include:

• gastrointestinal problems, such as nausea, vomiting, constipation, and diarrhea
• cough or shortness of breath
• skin problems, including rash, acne, or dry skin
• muscle aches or joint pain
• feeling tired
• swelling in your hands or legs
• belly pain or decreased appetite
• sores in your mouth

Mild side effects of many drugs may go away within a few days to a couple of weeks. But if they become bothersome, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

To learn about other mild side effects, talk with your doctor or pharmacist or read Mekinist’s prescribing information.

Serious side effects

Serious side effects from Mekinist can occur. Serious side effects may vary slightly depending on the condition for which you’re taking Mekinist. They also may vary slightly if you’re taking Mekinist along with Tafinlar.

If you have serious side effects from Mekinist, call your doctor right away. But if you think you’re having a medical emergency, you should call 911. Or call your local emergency number.

Serious side effects of Mekinist that have been reported include:

• new or worsening high blood pressure
• cancer in a new place on your body, including your skin
• serious bleeding, including in your brain or gastrointestinal (GI) tract
• colitis or a tear in your GI tract
• blood clot, including in your legs or lungs
• heart problems, including heart failure
• eye problems, including glaucoma, vision changes, and blindness
• new or worsening lung problems, including interstitial lung disease or pneumonitis
• serious fever, which could be accompanied by chills, dehydration, or kidney problems
• serious skin problems, including Stevens-Johnson syndrome
• blood sugar levels higher than normal or worsening diabetes
• liver enzyme or creatinine levels in your blood higher than normal
• levels of sodium, albumin, white blood cells, iron, lymphocytes, or platelets in your blood lower than normal
• hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (a life threatening condition associated with your immune system)

Allergic reaction

For some people, Mekinist can cause an allergic reaction. But this was a rare side effect reported in the drug’s studies.

In general, symptoms of allergic reaction can be mild or serious.

What might help

If you have mild symptoms of an allergic reaction, such as a mild rash, call your doctor right away. They may suggest a treatment to manage your symptoms and can determine whether you should keep taking Mekinist.

If you have symptoms of a severe allergic reaction, such as swelling or difficulty breathing, call 911. Or call your local emergency number right away. These symptoms could be life threatening and require immediate medical care.

Your doctor can confirm whether you’ve had a serious allergic reaction to Mekinist. If they do, they may have you switch to a different treatment.

What is Mekinist taken for?

For some uses, Mekinist is approved to be taken alone for treatment. For others, it’s approved to be taken along with another drug.

Mekinist is taken only for cancer that has mutations (abnormal changes) in the BRAF gene. Before your doctor prescribes Mekinist, they’ll test your cancer for these mutations.

Mekinist is not used to treat colorectal cancer.

Uses of Mekinist alone

By itself, Mekinist is taken to treat melanoma in adults that:

• cannot be removed surgically or has spread to other areas of the body, and
• has not been treated previously with another drug that belongs to the same group of drugs as Mekinist

Uses of Mekinist along with Tafinlar

Along with dabrafenib (Tafinlar), Mekinist is taken for the following uses:

• treat melanoma that cannot be removed surgically or has spread to other areas of the body in adults
• help keep melanoma from coming back after it’s been removed surgically from lymph nodes in adults
• treat NSCLC that has spread to other areas in adults
• treat anaplastic thyroid cancer that either has spread to nearby tissues or that has spread to other areas that cannot be treated adequately at the source in adults
• treat solid tumors that have worsened since prior treatment but cannot be removed surgically or have spread to other areas and have no alternative treatment options in adults and children ages 1 year and older (See the note below.)
• treat glioma (a type of brain tumor) in children ages 1 year and older

Note: Mekinist received accelerated approval from the FDA for use in solid tumors. Accelerated approval is based on information from early drug studies. The FDA will make a decision about full approval after more studies are completed.

Brief overview of conditions Mekinist treats

If your cancer has spread to other areas of your body, you may experience pain that you can’t explain (no reason for it). You also may have weight loss and tiredness.

Depending on the type of cancer you have, you may have other symptoms. For example:

• If you have melanoma, you may experience a mole on your skin that becomes a different color or gets bigger.
• If you have NSCLC, you may experience chest pain. Or you may wheeze or always have a cough.
• If you have anaplastic thyroid cancer, you may experience changes in your voice or a growing mass in your neck.
• If you have a solid tumor, you may experience swelling or a new lump in a certain area of your body.
• If you have glioma, you may experience headache, seizure, or problems with your vision or balance.

How Mekinist works

Mekinist is a kinase inhibitor. Kinases are a type of protein. Specifically, Mekinist blocks the actions of two kinases: MEK1 and MEK2.

Mekinist is prescribed for cancers that have mutations (abnormal changes) in the BRAF gene, which is another type of kinase. It treats cancer with mutations in BRAF V600E or V600K. This also may be called “BRAF positive” cancer.

Mutations in BRAF help cancer cells grow and spread in your body. By blocking MEK1 and MEK2, Mekinist helps block BRAF from mutating further. In these ways, Mekinist helps slow the growth and spread of cancer cells.

Tafinlar may be prescribed with Mekinist, depending on your specific cancer. This drug also blocks BRAF.

What is Mekinist’s dosage?

Your doctor will recommend the dosage of Mekinist that’s right for you. Below are commonly used dosages, but always take the dosage your doctor prescribes.

Forms and strengths

Mekinist comes in two forms:

• An oral tablet: It comes in two strengths of 0.5 milligrams (mg) and 2 mg.
• A powder that a pharmacist mixes into an oral solution: It comes in one strength of 0.05 mg per 1 milliliter of solution (0.05 mg/mL).

Recommended dosages

Before you start Mekinist, your doctor will confirm that your cancer has a specific mutation in the BRAF gene. If your cancer doesn’t have this mutation, your doctor likely will prescribe another treatment.

If your doctor prescribes the tablet form, the recommended dosage of Mekinist is 2 mg once daily.

You and your doctor may decide that the oral solution is better for you or your child. If so, the recommended dose is based on body weight in kilograms (kg). (For reference, 1 kg is about 2.2 pounds [lb].) Your doctor or your child’s doctor will prescribe the exact dose in mg (converted to mL) to be taken daily.

Your doctor may lower or pause your dose based on the severity of side effects you might experience. If you still experience side effects after two dose reductions, your doctor may stop Mekinist and switch you to another treatment. But if your side effects are severe at any time, your doctor may just stop Mekinist without reducing your dose.

To learn more about Mekinist’s dosage, ask your doctor or pharmacist.

Questions about taking Mekinist

Below are some common questions about taking Mekinist.

• Can Mekinist be chewed, crushed, or split? No, you should not chew, crush, or split Mekinist tablets. You should swallow them whole. If you have difficulty swallowing pills, check out this article or ask your doctor or pharmacist for advice. Your doctor also may consider prescribing the oral solution form of Mekinist for you.
• Should I take Mekinist with food? No. Mekinist should be taken 1 hour before or 2 hours after a meal.
• Is there a best time of day to take Mekinist? Mekinist can be taken at any time of day, but it’s best to take it at the same time each day. (You should take it once every 24 hours.) This helps keep a consistent level of the drug in your body, which helps Mekinist work effectively.
• What if I miss a dose of Mekinist? If you miss a dose of Mekinist, take it as soon as you remember. But if it’s within 12 hours of your next dose, skip the missed dose. And then take the next dose at its usual time. You should not take two doses at once to make up for a missed dose. Doing so could raise your risk of side effects.
• Will I need to take Mekinist long term? Mekinist is typically taken as a long-term treatment. You and your doctor can determine whether it’s safe and effective for your condition. If you agree that it is, you’ll likely take it long term.
• How long does Mekinist take to work? Mekinist works to slow your cancer’s growth and spread. While you may not feel Mekinist working, you may experience side effects. Your doctor will order tests throughout your treatment to check whether Mekinist is working for your condition. For more about what to expect from your Mekinist treatment for your specific condition, talk with your doctor.

Overdose

Do not take more Mekinist than your doctor prescribes, as this can lead to harmful effects.

What to do in case you take too much Mekinist

Call your doctor if you think you’ve taken too much Mekinist. You can also call 800-222-1222 to reach America’s Poison Centers or use its online resource. But if you have severe symptoms, immediately call 911 or your local emergency number. Or go to the nearest emergency room.

What should be considered before taking Mekinist?

Below is important information you should consider before taking Mekinist.

Interactions

Taking a drug with certain medications, vaccines, foods, and other things can affect how the drug works. These effects are called interactions.

Mekinist is not known to interact with other medications, herbs, supplements, foods, or alcohol. The drugmaker has not listed any interactions in the drug’s prescribing information.

Before starting Mekinist treatment, talk with your doctor and pharmacist. Tell them about all prescription, over-the-counter, and other drugs you take. Also, tell them about any vitamins, herbs, and supplements you take. Sharing this information can help you avoid potential interactions.

If you have questions about drug interactions that may affect you, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

Mekinist and alcohol

Alcohol is not known to interact with Mekinist.But alcohol may make certain side effects from Mekinist worse, such as nausea, vomiting, or feeling tired. Because of this, your doctor may recommend that you limit the amount of alcohol you drink.

Pregnancy and breastfeeding

Mekinist is not safe to take during pregnancy or while breastfeeding.

You should not breastfeed while taking Mekinist and for 4 months after your last dose.

Birth control

It’s recommended that females who can become pregnant use birth control during treatment with Mekinist. They also should use it for at least 4 months after taking the last Mekinist dose.

Males with partners who can become pregnant also should use birth control during treatment. Likewise, they also should use it for at least 4 months after the last Mekinist dose.

Note: In this article, we use the terms “male” and “female” to refer to someone’s sex assigned at birth. For information about the difference between sex and gender, see this article.

Warnings

Mekinist can sometimes cause harmful effects in people who have certain conditions. This is known as a drug-condition interaction. Other factors may also affect whether Mekinist is a good treatment option for you.

Talk with your doctor about your health history before you take Mekinist. Be sure to tell them if any of the following factors apply to you:

• high blood pressure
• heart problems, including heart failure
• diabetes
• liver problems or kidney problems
• have had a past episode of serious bleeding, including in your brain or gastrointestinal (GI) tract
• have or have had certain GI problems, including colitis
• have had a blood clot before, including in your legs or lungs
• certain eye problems, including glaucoma
• certain lung problems, including interstitial lung disease or pneumonitis
• have had serious skin problems in the past, such as Stevens-Johnson syndrome
• previous allergic reaction to Mekinist
• pregnancy
• breastfeeding

Mekinist cost and coupons

Whether or not you have health insurance, cost may be a factor when you’re considering Mekinist. What you’ll pay for Mekinist may depend on several things, such as your treatment plan and the pharmacy you use.

Here are a few things to consider regarding cost:

• Cost information and savings coupons: You can visit Optum Perks to get price estimates of what you’d pay for some drugs when using coupons from the site. (Note: Optum Perks coupons cannot be used with any insurance copays or benefits.)
• Savings program: If you have questions about how to pay for your prescription, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. A program called the Novartis Oncology Universal Copay Program may be available.

You can also check out this article to learn more about saving money on prescriptions.

Similar drugs

Other drugs are available that can treat your condition. If you’d like to explore an alternative to Mekinist, talk with your doctor. They can tell you about other medications that might work for you.

The following drugs are similar to Mekinist:

• Tafinlar (dabrafenib)
• Cotellic (cobimetinib)
• Mektovi (binimetinib)
• Zelboraf (vemurafenib)
• Braftovi (encorafenib)

Disclaimer: Healthline has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up to date. However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional. You should always consult your doctor or another healthcare professional before taking any medication. The drug information contained herein is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. The absence of warnings or other information for a given drug does not indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses.

What ⁣is Mekinist Used ⁢For?

Mekinist is primarily used to treat certain types of cancers, such as melanoma, non-small cell lung cancer, and thyroid cancer. It works by inhibiting proteins involved in cancer cell growth.

What Are the ‍Common ‍Side Effects of Mekinist?

Common side ⁢effects of Mekinist include rash, diarrhea, fatigue, nausea, and fever. It’s important to discuss any side effects you experience ‍with your healthcare provider.

How Should I Take Mekinist?

Mekinist is typically ⁣taken orally once a day, ‌either with or without food. ‍Always follow your doctor’s specific dosage instructions to ensure‌ optimum effectiveness and to minimize risks.

Can Mekinist ⁣Interact with Other Medications?

Yes, Mekinist can interact with other medications. It’s crucial to inform your healthcare provider ⁢about all the medications and supplements you are⁤ currently taking to avoid any potential interactions.

What Precautions Should Be Taken Before Using Mekinist?

Before ⁢using Mekinist, ⁣inform your doctor if you have a history of heart problems, eye⁢ disorders, or liver issues. Regular monitoring and check-ups are essential while on⁤ this​ medication.

Is Mekinist Safe During Pregnancy or Breastfeeding?

Mekinist is not recommended for ⁣use during‌ pregnancy or breastfeeding due to the ⁣potential risk of harm to the unborn baby ‍or infant. Always consult⁢ your healthcare provider for advice specific to your situation.

What Should I Do if I Miss a Dose⁣ of Mekinist?

If you miss a dose of Mekinist, take it as⁢ soon as you‍ remember. However, if it’s almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and resume your normal schedule. Do not double the dose to catch up.

What Are the Serious Side Effects of Mekinist?

Serious side effects of Mekinist can⁣ include heart problems, lung⁣ issues, ‍bleeding problems, and severe ⁣skin reactions.‌ Seek ​immediate ‌medical attention if you experience ​any of these symptoms.

How Can I Store Mekinist⁣ Safely?

Store Mekinist in‌ its original ‌container at room‍ temperature, away from excess heat and moisture. Ensure it is kept out​ of reach⁣ of children and pets to prevent accidental ingestion.